Mary Margaret McCabe
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mmmccabe.bsky.social
Mary Margaret McCabe
@mmmccabe.bsky.social
4.2K followers 3.1K following 150 posts

Ancient philosopher on either construal. Also, Philosophy in Prison www.philosophyinprison.com

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Mary Margaret Anne McCabe, known as M. M. McCabe, is emerita professor of ancient philosophy at King's College London. She has written books on Plato and other ancient philosophers, including the pre-Socratics, Socrates and Aristotle. .. more

Philosophy 78%
History 8%
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mmmccabe.bsky.social
Mary Margaret McCabe @mmmccabe.bsky.social · Sep 18
Just published my account of the work of Philosophy in Prison philosophyinprison.com#philsky #prison #philosophy
journal.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/articles/12/...

Reposted by Mary Margaret McCabe

georgemonbiot.bsky.social
George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 3h
How many times do we need to point this out?
By appeasing the far right, you do not weaken it. You strengthen it.
While weakening your own position.
There's a vast amount of academic research showing this.
But Labour will not listen.
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/dec...
Starmer urges Europe’s leaders to curb ECHR to halt rise of far right
Exclusive: PM calls for members of European convention on human rights to allow tougher action to protect borders
www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Mary Margaret McCabe

nicolakellywrites.bsky.social
Nicola Kelly @nicolakellywrites.bsky.social · 3h
But the question remains: why is Keir Starmer not making the case for the ECHR and what protections it brings to British people?

He spent his entire career defending it. He wrote a 900 page book on it! A prime minister who left his principles at the door the minute he got into power.

Reposted by Mary Margaret McCabe

ukcla.bsky.social
UK Constitutional Law Association @ukcla.bsky.social · 5h
Kirsty Hughes: The Implications of the Court of Appeal’s Judgment on ‘Family Life’ for the Government’s Immigration Proposals ukconstitutionallaw.org/2025/12/10/k...
Kirsty Hughes: The Implications of the Court of Appeal’s Judgment on ‘Family Life’ for the Government’s Immigration Proposals
On 27 November 2025 the Court of Appeal handed down its judgment in IA v SHHD [2025] EWCA Civ 1516 clarifying the correct test to be used when determining whether there is ‘family life’ in immigrat…
ukconstitutionallaw.org

Reposted by Lesley A. Hall, Mary Margaret McCabe

colinelves.bsky.social
Colin Elves @colinelves.bsky.social · 5h
Can we go back to responding to racism and antisemitism with disgust and opprobrium please?

Reposted by Lesley A. Hall, Alan Lester, Mary Margaret McCabe

eicathomefinn.bsky.social
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 1d
If you teach histories of British slavery, don't miss this Thursday's book launch and talk: Teaching Slavery: New Approaches to Britain's Colonial Past, IHR, London 11 December & on Zoom. 5:30pm. Registration details are below and a link to the open access book in post 2/2. This post is 1/2.
Book talk: Teaching Slavery: New Approaches to Britain’s Colonial Past
www.history.ac.uk

Reposted by Peter Thorne, Steve Peers, Andrew Scott , and 9 more

donmoyn.bsky.social
Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 2d
The EU was created in by people who lived through WWII and saw political and economic integration as a means to bringing peace and stability to the continent.

It is being opposed by Putin, Musk and the others who support Neo Nazis in Europe.
Musk promoting a post of the EU flag turning into the Nazi flag

Reposted by Mary Margaret McCabe

zoejardiniere.bsky.social
Zoe Gardner @zoejardiniere.bsky.social · 13d
Our conversation about immigration is framed entirely on Nigel Farage’s terms.
Labour has completely capitulated the ground to the far right, the racism & the hate.

We no longer have a conversation AT ALL about how we need immigration & when we cut it, we pay the price. #r4today

Reposted by Richard Waite, Mary Margaret McCabe

nisreenalwan.bsky.social
Prof Nisreen Alwan @nisreenalwan.bsky.social · 13d
I feel angry about the all hostile narratives propagated against immigrants. It's socially hard for an ethnic minority woman to express anger but nevertheless I feel I must. Anger is the appropriate emotion here with such gross unfairness & public harm. Let's give eachother permission to express it.

Reposted by Rebecca Solnit, Dorothy Bishop, Simon L. Lewis , and 13 more

carolecadwalla.bsky.social
Carole Cadwalladr @carolecadwalla.bsky.social · 14d
I’m a past winner of the Orwell Prize & won partly because I exposed Vote Leave’s unlawful activities.

Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise

bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Michael Gove Made Orwell Prize Judge Despite Record of Attacking Journalists and Dodging Scrutiny
Critics say "Orwell would have enjoyed the irony" of the former Conservative minister's appointment
bylinetimes.com

Reposted by Mary Margaret McCabe

theguardian.com
The Guardian @theguardian.com · 16d
Shabana Mahmood is an avatar of open Britain – that’s what makes her fable about immigration so seductive | Nesrine Malik
Shabana Mahmood is an avatar of open Britain – that’s what makes her fable about immigration so seductive | Nesrine Malik
‘She is the daughter of immigrants,’ supporters of her cruel asylum policies say. ‘How can she be wrong?’ Let me put them straight, says Guardian columnist Nesrine Malik
www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Dorothy Bishop, Ailsa Cameron, Mary Margaret McCabe , and 1 more

ledbydonkeys.org
Led By Donkeys @ledbydonkeys.org · 21d
The real BBC bias story, narrated by Anna Ford

Reposted by Mary Bosworth, Steve Peers, Mary Margaret McCabe

profmarkelliott.bsky.social
Mark Elliott @profmarkelliott.bsky.social · 22d
New post

The legal and constitutional implications of the asylum white paper: Some initial thoughts

publiclawforeveryone.com/2025/11/17/t...
The legal and constitutional implications of the asylum white paper: Some initial thoughts
Proposals for radical reform of the UK’s asylum system raise a number of legal and constitutional issues, with respect both to the European Convention on Human Rights and the domestic principle of …
publiclawforeveryone.com

Reposted by Peter Thorne, Mary Margaret McCabe

johnharris1969.bsky.social
John Harris @johnharris1969.bsky.social · 22d
I think you can get the measure of the deadness of someone's soul from the fact they kick up a stink about [checks notes] autistic kids wearing ear defenders

Reposted by John Foot, Mary Margaret McCabe

writesbright.bsky.social
Sam Bright @writesbright.bsky.social · 22d
Starmer’s anti-asylum policies show how utterly clueless he is about the right-wing media’s role in politics.

He’s trying to fix a “problem” contrived by Farage, GB News and The Telegraph. He’ll never win, because ultimately he’s fighting a ghost – he’s fighting something that doesn’t really exist

Reposted by Lesley A. Hall, Mary Margaret McCabe, James Cameron

sundersays.bsky.social
Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 23d
Ministers now appear to be confirming in broadcast interviews that they would audit and could confiscate assets (including jewellery) excepting wedding rings from the jewellery that they could confiscate.

mmmccabe.bsky.social
Mary Margaret McCabe @mmmccabe.bsky.social · 23d
Remembrance Day doesn’t seem to have had any impact on this *Home Office Minister*. To propose a reprehensible policy does its own moral harm, as well as revealing profound ignorance.
theguardian.com The Guardian @theguardian.com · 23d
Refugees’ jewellery could be seized to pay for asylum costs, says Home Office minister
Refugees’ jewellery could be seized to pay for asylum costs, says Home Office minister
Idea borrowed from Denmark is latest attempt to reduce number of refugees coming to UK Refugees could have jewellery or other valuables taken to pay for the costs of processing their cases, a Home Office minister has said, in another detail of changes to migration policy likely to cause worries among Labour MPs. Speaking to broadcasters before the formal announcement of sweeping changes to asylum policy on Monday, the Home Office minister Alex Norris said while this would not involve seizing wedding rings, jewellery without sentimental value could be taken. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Steven French, Mary Margaret McCabe

gabyhinsliff.bsky.social
Gaby Hinsliff @gabyhinsliff.bsky.social · 23d
Six weeks since the PM said Britain faced a choice between decency or division and our bad, obviously, for not understanding that he was in fact Team Division

Reposted by Mary Margaret McCabe

sianushka.bsky.social
sianushka.bsky.social @sianushka.bsky.social · 23d
There’s just so much performative cruelty and stupidity in the asylum announcements that it’s hard to know where to start.

But one place to start is that if its aim is to reduce small boats crossings, it won’t work.

We’ve had 5 years of deterrent policies. They don’t work.

Reposted by Mary Margaret McCabe

theguardian.com
The Guardian @theguardian.com · 23d
Refugees’ jewellery could be seized to pay for asylum costs, says Home Office minister
Refugees’ jewellery could be seized to pay for asylum costs, says Home Office minister
Idea borrowed from Denmark is latest attempt to reduce number of refugees coming to UK Refugees could have jewellery or other valuables taken to pay for the costs of processing their cases, a Home Office minister has said, in another detail of changes to migration policy likely to cause worries among Labour MPs. Speaking to broadcasters before the formal announcement of sweeping changes to asylum policy on Monday, the Home Office minister Alex Norris said while this would not involve seizing wedding rings, jewellery without sentimental value could be taken. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com

mmmccabe.bsky.social
Mary Margaret McCabe @mmmccabe.bsky.social · 24d
Up to a point — I recall Cooper saying that the Rwanda scheme was impracticable as well as unethical. I remember it because it made me so cross. You need to start with ‘unethical’ and figure out how to avoid it. ‘Ethical’ is not an afterthought.

Reposted by Mary Margaret McCabe

jenwilliamsft.bsky.social
Jennifer Williams @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social · 24d
If you want more significant numbers of asylum seekers to work and find their own housing, rather than rely on statutory asylum provision, then you presumably need to…allow them to work? What am I missing

mmmccabe.bsky.social
Mary Margaret McCabe @mmmccabe.bsky.social · 24d
Mahmood’s word-salad to camouflage a vile move by government. If immigration is causing divides fix the divides not the legislation.
peterstefanovic.bsky.social Peter Stefanovic @peterstefanovic.bsky.social · 24d
“on article 8 of the ECHR in particular the right to family life ..we want to constrain in legislation the way that that is applied in immigration cases” Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood tells Sky’s Trevor Philips

Who would have imagined we would ever hear this from a Labour government

Reposted by Mary Margaret McCabe

ctmccartney.bsky.social
Dr Carole McCartney 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ @ctmccartney.bsky.social · 24d
Does Shabana Mahmood realise she is in the Labour party? I'm struggling some days to see how some Labour MPs even joined the party.. they don't seem to have any of the ideals I associate with being a Labour supporter.

Reposted by Mary Margaret McCabe

danielsohege.bsky.social
Dan Sohege @danielsohege.bsky.social · 24d
Today is not the day to argue "oh so you want Reform to win then" as an argument for Labour's indefensible and inhumane anti-asylum policies. At least be honest and own that you're defending racist policies promoted with genuinely far right talking points. Don't try and pretend this is "progressive"

Reposted by Stephan Lewandowsky, Gavin L. Foster, Mary Margaret McCabe

carolinelucas.bsky.social
Caroline Lucas @carolinelucas.bsky.social · 24d
Labour’s latest attack on asylum seekers is cruel & counterproductive. How does it help community cohesion to hold threat of deportation over vulnerable people? We don’t need an arms race with the hard right over asylum, we need safe routes & European cooperation #bbclaurak

Reposted by Andrew Scott, Simon Wren‐Lewis, Ralf Martin , and 2 more

adambienkov.bsky.social
Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 24d
Not everyone is unhappy about the Government's descent into anti-refugee politics

Reposted by Jonathan Wolff, Mary Margaret McCabe

stevecooke.org
Grumpy Philosopher @stevecooke.org · 24d
Asked a question by Kuenssberg about whether her proposals on refugees would mean refugee families being broken up, Shabana Mahmood immediately started talking about illegal migration. Eventually, she’s admitted that yes, Labour’s policy will break up settled families. Vile.

Reposted by Andrew Scott, Mary Margaret McCabe

peterstefanovic.bsky.social
Peter Stefanovic @peterstefanovic.bsky.social · 24d
“on article 8 of the ECHR in particular the right to family life ..we want to constrain in legislation the way that that is applied in immigration cases” Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood tells Sky’s Trevor Philips

Who would have imagined we would ever hear this from a Labour government

Reposted by Nando Sigona, Tim Bale, Mary Margaret McCabe , and 2 more

sundersays.bsky.social
Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 24d
Shabana Mahmood tells Sunday Times it should take 20 years for somebody granted refugee status in UK to secure permanent status (ie, reapply 6 times) if came without permission.

Paper says Denmark has toughest settlement timeline (8 years) but UK govt wants longer

www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
Shabana Mahmood: ‘Illegal migration is tearing Britain apart’
The home secretary is planning to introduce a 20-year wait for permanent stay to end a ‘golden ticket’ for asylum seekers
www.thetimes.com

Reposted by Jonathan Portes, Stephan Lewandowsky, Steven French , and 9 more

goodlawproject.org
Jolyon Maugham KC @goodlawproject.org · 24d
No, I'd say it's racists and those pandering to them.